Today I want to talk about the need for “right” information.
I am not a super handy man. I can get by but that is another post for another day. Being a home owner forces you to visit Lowes from time to time. Lowes is a large store with lots of stuff, lots of people and lots of everything. Except one thing…. accurate helpful information.
I can’t count how many times I have hunted down someone wearing a blue smock to tap into wisdom about paint, plumbing, sheet-rock you name it. Only to be meet by blank stares followed by shoulder shrugs. Worse yet is when you are given inaccurate information.
Children’s ministry like many things is very much dependent on accurate information. We need to get the right answers to the right people so that we can reach everyone God has called us to reach. If our children’s ministries become about lots of stuff and lots of people we have failed.
Crowds don’t matter to God, but each individual in that crowd does.
How can we bolster authentic communication in children’s ministry?
1. Nice Big, Good looking signs. (BTW I am guilty of this one) I am not as passionate about signs as I should be. We are changing our signs with our kids wing remodel. For more on people who are passionate about signs check out Matt’s blog he is a great children’s pastor with a great blog and is OCD about signs.
2. Clear vision – God matters most! Each individual person matters second most!
3. Communicate where people are and how the liked to be communicated to. Mix it up – Don’t just use the church bulletin or phone-tree mix it up. Use email, facebook, texting, blogs, video and good ole face to face communication.
4. Write it out. Something I am doing right now is working with our albany campus pastor Gareth Gilpin on a policy handbook that is short to the point and makes sense.
5. Keep parents in the loop – Our job is work in concert with parents not in competition with them. We are to be another voice in the lives of their kids telling them they can do all things through Christ Jesus.
Sam… I think you are a genius. It is a huge blessing to serve God with you.
I hope we can get together again sometime soon.
Michael Chanley
Chanley,
Thanks for your support and kind words. I can’t wait to connect again soon. Keep keeping it real. Ha!
sam
Chanley BTW forgot to mention that you are a Kidmin Beast. Never change my brotha!
Great post.
However, I have the opposite Home Improvement problems. I ALWAYS go to Lowe’s when I need advice, and Home Depot associates always stare at me like I’m asking about Rocket Science!
The last time I went to Lowe’s, I was looking for a plunger.
After talking with 4 associates and wasting an hour of my life, I drove the extra mile to Home Depot.
Our church experience should never look like a shopping trip to Lowe’s.
Thanks for the reminder, Sam!